I'm sure we've all heard the story of the cup that overflowed.  Well, this story is entirely different!  This is a story about a bucket called life and the best ways to go about filling it with things like joy, love and happiness.  In truth, we're not really talking about a bucket at all, we're actually talking about how we can fill our life with greatness simply by comparing it to a big, invisible bucket.  Don't worry, everyone has one and they are all the same size.

It determines how we feel about ourselves, about others, and how we get along with the people around us each and every day. Have you ever experienced a series of truly favorable things that made it so much easier for you to be nice to just about everyone you met for around a week? Sure, we all have!  Well, at that time your bucket was no doubt full or near to overflowing.  You see, that's how life feels when your bucket is at that sort of level.  Simply magnificent!

It's also worth noting that a bucket can be filled by positive things that happen in our lives as we go about our day. Each time a person "really" speaks to us on a deep and meaningful way for example; recognizes us as a fellow human being, or just makes an impactful difference in our day, then our bucket is filled a little more.  More still if they call us by our proper name, compliment us on what we're wearing or on a job well done perhaps. How cool is that?

There are more than a million ways to raise the level in our bucket as well as in the buckets of others. Writing them a friendly letter, remembering special days in their lives, telling them how much they mean to us, understanding them when they're going through a tough time of things or offering them a helping hand in times of need.  Or, simply just listening to them when they need someone to talk to rather than be preach to about their mistakes.

Sadly though, you can also lower the level of someone bucket by saying mean or nasty things about them.  Going out of your way to be rude or impolite.  Ignoring them in times of need, or turning your back on them when they most need your help.  There are just as many ways to empty a bucket as there are to fill it.

What is more, buckets are filled and emptied each and every day most usually through people not thinking properly before they open their mouth to speak.  The good news is that they are also filled to overflowing when people are kind and thoughtful, put others before self, go out of their way to make a positive difference in the world and are generous, forgiving and understanding.

What's the level at in your bucket right now?  Is is close to overflowing or almost empty?  More importantly, do you raise or lower the level in the buckets of the people you come into contact with each day?  Remember, if we would only think more before we speak, we could make all the difference in the world in the lives of others, as well as in our own!